Automobile radiator cap



A. S. KUX

AUTOMOBILE RADIATOR CAP "Filed Sept INVENTQR 4M 5M BY ATTORNEY-5 Patented May 6, 1924.

UNITED STATES ALBERT S. KUX, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMOBILE RADIATOR CAP.

Application filed September 3, 1921. Serial No. 498,361.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALBERT S. Kim, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident v of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Radiator Caps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in automobile radiator caps, and more particularly to adevice of the character described, especially adapted to be attached to the filling neck of an automobile radiator and constituting a closure therefor so constructed that the radiator may be filled without entirely removing the cap, as is the case with the ordinary type of screw cap commonly in use.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a novel and useful construction for a radiator cap so designed that in its normal position communication with the interior of the radiator is closed and upon a partial rotation of the cap, a filling neck is not only brought into an accessible position for'filling, but communication is opened to the 'radiator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel structure forming a part of the cap and ordinarily termed an adapter which permits the cap to be applied to various makes of radiators wherein the dimensions of the filling neck are varied both in diameter and height. The particular purpose of the adapter is to permit a single size and type of cap to be applied to several makes of vehicle as a universal attachment.

In the drawings, is disclosed a preferred construction for a-radia-t-or cap embodying the invention, the figures thereof being briefly described as follows:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of the cap as attached to an automobile radiator, with the main portions thereof shown in vertical section,

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section, taken on line 2, 2 of Fig. 1, v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the cap and taken on the same section line as Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view infront elevation of the cap as applied to an automobile radiator with the temperature indicator removed.

As ordinarily constructed, the radiator 1 of an automobile is a metallic shell provided at its top with an upwardly extending cylindric neck 2 provided with a threaded portion adjacent its upper edge for the purpose of receiving a screw cap or closure. This screw threaded portion may either be internal or external as the case may be. w

A device embodying the present invention is designed to replace the usual plain screw cap, and, as will be hereinafter pointed out, embodies a number of novel features not present in caps heretofore used. type of cap presently to be described is primarily to be. considered as an attachmentcertain novel features of the invention may be incorporated in a device forming a stand- Although the a-rd equipment of a radiator and therefore it is to be understood at theoutset that the invention is not necessarily limited to an article to be sold separately from a radiator and to be applied as an accessory.

In general, the cap embodies a stationary or fixed member 3, which also may be identified as an'adapter, and the rotative cap member 4 mounted upon the base member 3 through the medium of relatively coarse screw threads, hereinafter to be'described more in detail.

Referring further to the cap member, the same comprises an annular body member 4: having a hollow space therein and provided on its under side with an annular flange 4", on the internalsurface of which are cut screw threads 5' of a relatively coarse pitch, and preferably square in shape. These screw threads engage complementary threads formed on the base member 3, as will hereinafter he pointed out Offset from the vertical axis of the cap member at and extending upwardly and outwardly at a slight taper is a filling neck 6 of a slightly flaring conformation which communicates directly with theinternal space of the cap 4. With'-, in the entrance of the filling neck is prefer-- ably mounted a perforated member? which serves as av strainer to prevent foreign matter to pass through the cap int-o the'radiator. On opposite sidesof the cap member 4 and formed integral therewith are two diametrically opposed arms 8, 8 projecting horizontally therefrom and provided at their ends with spherical enlargements 8 8 These handles are so arranged as to project laterally from the cap when the parts thereof are in normal position, which position, as will hereinafter appear, is 'that in which communication with the radiator is shut ofl through the filling neck 6 and the latter located at a distance from the front of the radiator.

The base member 3 comprises a cylindric body member 10 having an upwardly facing socket 1O at its upper end together with a radial flange ll of a diameter greater than that of the radiator neck 2, said flange being provided at its periphery with an en-' larged portion 11 in which are cut the complementary screw threads engaged by those of the cap member 4. The body portion 10 of the base member 3 is considerably less in diameter than that of the filling neck 2 of the radiator so that the same may be readily inserted and depend therein when the radial flange 11 rests upon the upper edge of the filling neck, there being preferably inserted between the contacting surfaces a gasket 12 of suitable material. At the lower end of the body portion 10 are supported toggle arms 13, 13 operative to secure the base member to the radiator in a manner hereinafter to be described.

At the upper edge of the body member, and more specifically at the junction of the vertical annular wall thereof and the radial flange 11, is a beveled seat 15 adapted to co-operate with an annular wall 16 integral with and depending from the top wall of. the cap member 4 and arranged in concentric relation with the'vertical axis thereof. The lower edge of the annular wall 16 is beveled to conform to that of the seat 15 and is adapted to seat around said surface 15 to normally cut off communication between the space surrounding said annular wall 16 and the interior of the socket 10" of the body member 10. In other words, the annular wall 16 constitutes avalve member co-opcrating with the valve seat 15 to form a valve controlling the admission of water into the radiator, said valve being opened and closed in the rotation of the cap member 4 upon the stationary base member 3 through the medium of the screw threads connecting these parts together. Manifestlv, in the; rotation of the cap member, the same moves in a vertical direction. thus raising and lowering the beveled edge of the valve member 16 into and out of contact with its seat 15, depending on the direction of rotation of said cap member. As a preferable arrangement, the pitch of the threads is such that the rotation of the cap member through an angle less than a complete revolution will open the valve sufit ciently to permit water to pass through the valve into the radiator. In Fig. 2 the parts are shown in a position wherein the valve is closed and the filling neck 6 is located at the rear of the cap as considered with respect to the front of the vehicle. In such position the filling neck is inaccessible for filling purposes and is furt-hern'iore partially concealed behind a temperature indicator or motor-meter 17 mounted upon the top wall at of the cap member 4 and arranged in axial alinement therewith. To operate the cap for the purposes of filling the radiator with water, the cap would be turned by means of the handles 8, 8 through an angle of 180 degrees, or one-half a revolution, so that the filling neck 6 is brought around to the, front of the radiator in a position convenient for filling. As already suggested, the rotation of the cap into filling position simultaneously opens the valve permitting the water to flow freely into the radiator.

In order to securely lock the cap member a to the base member 3 and to prevent the former from being completely unscrewed therefrom a hole is drilled and tapped through a boss 18 formed adjacent the lower edge of the flange l of the cap member and imn'iediately below the filling neck, as shown in Fig. 3. of this hole is-inwardlv and downwardly and oblique to the vertical axis of the cap and into this tapped hole in screwed a set screw 19, its end projecting slightly beyond the screw threads The set screw 19 is preferably of the headless variety and sufficiently short so that the outer end is countersunk below the entrance to the tapped hole when fully screwed down. Within the space or socket above the cap screw is preferably inserted a quantity of solder or like material 20 serving to plug the opening and to prevent the removal of the set screw with a View of unscrewing the cap completely with the intention of stealing the same or the temperature indicator 17 mountedthereon. Manifestly, the projecting endof the set screw will strike the flange 11 of the base member 3, thereby limiting the amount that the cap member may be unscrewed.

It has heretofore been pointed out that the body member 10 of the base member 3 carries at its lower end means for securing the latter to the radiator. It has been further pointed out that the body member 10 is provided with an upwardly facing socket 10, the function of which may now be pointed out, namely, as forming a depression into which the stem 17 of the motor-meter 17 may extend. This stem has a screwthreaded portion 17 carryinga lock nut 21 screwed against the inside of the top wall 4 of the cap member 4. It is also to be noted that laterally disposed openings 22 are formed in the side walls of the body me'mber 10 which provide openings for the entrance of the water into the radiator after it has been admitted through the valve im mediately above.

Referring now to the locking members 13, 13 at the lower end of the body member 10,

The direction I the said members comprise a pair of oppositely disposed arms pivoted at their upper ends within a diametrically transverse slot 23 at the lower endof the body member, these arms being slightly curved in an outwardly direction. Mounted in a vertically arranged tapped hole extending axially through the lower portion of the body member 10 is a screw 24 provided at its lower-end with a conical extremity 24. Along the inner edges of the arms 13 and adjacent their upper ends are lugs 13*, 13 which areadapted to be engaged by the conical extremity 24 of the screw 24.. The head of the screw 2a 'is provided with the usual slot to receivev a 'erably be disconnected and the base member 3 applied to the radiator neck 2 as a separate member. This would be done by first screwing the screw 24 upwardly, thus per mitting the arms to hang loosely in substantially vertical positions, thus enabling the base member to be inserted into the radiator neck 2 with the extremities of the arms 13, 13 below the lower edge of the radiator neck 2. Now, by screwing down the screw 24: in the manner suggested, the arms 13 are swung outwardly and against the lower edges of the radiator neck 2 and thus firmly locked in the position shown in Fig. 1. By this arrangement of parts, the base member 3 forms an adapter permitting the same to be attached to a considerable number of vehicles having varying diameters and heights of radiator necks 2, the arms 13 being of sufficient length and the space between the body portion and the outermost flange thereof being sufficient to allow the base member 3 to be applied to radiators in which the neck portion 2 varies between considerable limits.

Aside from the feature of adapting the cap to various dimensions of radiator necks, the same possesses several advantages as regards the convenience in the operation of filling the radiator. One of the great objections to the ordinary type of radiator cap is the difiiculty of unscrewing the same when it is very hot. Furthermore, the ordinary screw cap does not prevent theft of the motor-meter inasmuch as the cap is readily removed. In the cap of the present invention, however, the portion which carries the motor-meter is securely fixed to the radiator through the medium of the base member or adapter as well as the screw 19 which preventsthe cap portion from being completely removed. Furthermore, it is not necessary to completely unscrew the cap portion in order to pour water into the radiator, but only to give the latter a half turn by grasping the laterally extending handles 8, 8. A further feature, which not only adds to the appearance of the device but also increases its utility, isthe arrangement of the filling neck which is such that normally the same is located rearwardly and behind the motormeter, and hence is concealed from the front of the vehicle. Itis only during the filling operation that the filling neck is swung a lplund to the front and thus is readily access1 e.

Having described the construction and advantages of the device embodying the invention, I claim i 1. Anautomobile radiator cap comprising I'GltltiVQlYwlOtiLtlVG members forming a passage connecting the interior of said radiator and a filling opening in one of said members, and a valve located in said passage and adapted to be opened and closed in the relativev rotation of said members.

2. An automobile radiator cap comprising, relatively movable cap members, one of said members being mounted in stationary position upon a radiator, said members forming a passage communicating with said radiator, and with a fillingopening in one of said members, and a valve acting in the relative rotation of said cap members to open and close said passage. I

3. An. automobile radiator cap comprising a base member fixedto aradiator, a ro-' tative member mounted on said base member and forming therewith a passage communieating with said radiator, and provided with a filling opening, and a valve located in said passage and operative in the movement of said rotative member to open and close said passage.

4. An automobile radiator cap comprising a base member adapted to be fixed to a radiator, and provided'with a passage therethrough, a cap member rotatively mounted on said base member, and provided with a filling opening adapted to communicate with said passage in one position of rotative movement, and to be shut ofi from said passage in other positions of rotative movement of said cap member.

. 5.. An automobile radiator cap comprising a base member adapted to be fixed to a radiator, a cap member rotativelymounted on said base member and provided with a filling neck communicating with a passage through said members, one of said members being provided with a valve seat, and the other with a valve member movable intoand out of contact with said seat in the rotation of said cap member to close and open said passage.

. 6. Anautomobileiradiatorflcap comprising a base. member adapted to beifixed to a radiator, and provided with a passage communicating therewith,a cap member having screw threaded connection with said base member and provided with a filling opening communicating with an internal passage therein, one of said members being provided with a valve'member adapted to co-act with a valve seat formed on the other member to normally close said passages and to be opened by the displacement of said valve member in the rotative movement of said cap member.

7. An automobile radiator cap comprising a base member adapted to be mounted in stationary position upon a radiator, I a cap member rotatively mounted' on said base member through the medium. of screw threads of relatively coarse pitch, and provided with a filling neck communicating with a passage to said radiator, and a valve operative to open and close said passage in the partial revolution of said cap member.

8. An automobile. radiator cap comprising a base member adapted to be mounted in stationary positioniupon a radiator, a cap member having screw threaded connection with said base member, and adapted to form therewith a passage communicating with said radiator, means for closing said passage in the rotation of said cap member, and means for locking said cap member from removal from said base member.

9. An automobileradiator cap comprising a base member adapted tobe secured within the filling neck of a radiator, and provided with. an annular flange, a cap member having screw threaded engagement with the flange: of said base' member, and provided with a depend-ing annular flange adapted to rest upon a complementary annular seat formed on said base member, and co-operating therewith to form a valve operative in the rotation of said cap member to control the admission of water through a filling opening in said cap member into said rad iator.

- 10. An automobile radiator cap comprising a base member mounted on said radiator, a cap member rotatively mounted on said base member, and provided with an axially offset filling neck, and communicating with said radiator through said cap and base members, co-acting' valve. members onsaid members acting to open and close said passage in the rotative. movement of said cap member through substantially one-half a revolution of said cap member.

11. An automobile radiator cap adapted for attachment to thefilling neck of a radiator, and comprising a body portion depending into said neck, arms pivotally mounted at the lower end of said body portion and depending therefrom, and a screw mounted in said body portion and provided with a conical cam surface adapted to engage the upper end portions of said arms to force the same laterally into locking engagement with said neck in the movement of said screw.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 1st day of September, A. D. 1921.

ALBERT S. KUX. 

